NME Award winners Swim Deep are the catchiest of the new “B-town” set of young
indie bands from Birmingham, says James Lachno.

A group of young indie bands have emerged of late from Birmingham and Swim Deep are the catchiest of the new “B-town” set. The quartet’s simple, sunny hooks set them apart while their grungy look – including skateboards and Nirvana T-shirts – seems fresh after a decade dominated by skinny-jeaned rockers.

How did they get here?

The band came together through chance meetings as teenagers in their hometown. “Me and Higgy [guitarist Tom Higgins] worked in Morrisons,” laughs 21-year-old singer Austin Williams. “We were introduced over the ready meal aisle!” They added Williams’s friend Zach Robinson on drums and Cavan McCarthy on bass, meeting the latter on an indie disco dance floor. Last summer, their debut single King City was released by Chess Club records (formerly the home of Mumford & Sons), and they signed with Sony while recording blissful follow-up, Honey. Since then, they’ve toured with Spector and finished their debut album, due for release in May.

What do they sound like?

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A spry update on early-Nineties US alternative rock and psychedelic British indie. Honey sounds like The Pixies at their poppiest, while new single The Sea borrows its rippling drums and gleaming guitar riffs from The Stone Roses. “There’s a lot of escapism [in our music],” says Williams of the band’s cheerful sound. “More sun makes me happier – it’s a great little drug. If I can project that through our songs then that’s amazing.”

The band want to do more than just sell out arenas and be recognised in the street, says Williams. “There’s being the biggest band in the world, and there’s being a good influence. One Direction shut down whole cities but do they have a great influence on music? I don’t think so. You need to make people think.”

Swim Deep are currently touring the UK. 'The Sea' is released via Chess Club/RCA on March 4. swim-deep.tumblr.com